This Shark is a Master of Both Land and Sea

Are land sharks real? While most shark species exist solely in the sea, there’s one particular shark capable of coming ashore. How does this shark walk on land and what unique features does it have that sets it apart from other shark species?

Found on the northern shores of Australia, along Papua New Guinea’s shores, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands, the epaulette shark baffles scientists and shark fanatics alike. Here’s everything you need to know about this shark and how it’s adapted to life on land.

Epaulette Sharks: A Shark That Can Walk on Land

Epaulette sharks walk when they unintentionally become stranded on land, usually due to the tide moving out. The water is too shallow for the epaulette shark to swim out to deeper waters. They have the unique ability to use their pectoral and pelvis fins as legs and feet. The movement resembles that of a salamander-like walking gait. They will also traverse tide pools voluntarily, strolling from one body of water to the other.

How Does the Epaulette Shark Survive on Land?

It is a slow process, but the epaulette shark’s ability to use their fins gives them the ability to get to safety. One other question that comes to mind is that of breathing. A fish out of water doesn’t typically last long. The epaulette shark can slow its breathing, using very little oxygen for up to an hour. They do not experience any lasting effects from being out of water during this time. 

Other Odd Behaviors of the Epaulette Shark

Epaulette sharks are bottom feeders that prefer sand and coral reef areas to get their food. A nocturnal animal, they are often observed feeding during dusk and dawn which are their preferred feeding times. Invertebrates are their food of choice but juveniles usually choose polychaete worms and adults prefer crabs. Bony fish and shrimp are another favorite. 

The shark does not typically go below 50m, preferring to spend more time in warm, shallow waters with sandy bottoms. People have frequently observed this shark hunting for food in tidal pools. Unlike other sharks, the epaulette shark sometimes chews its food, moving it back and forth in the mouth until the shark is ready to swallow.

Epaulette Shark Size: How Large Do These Land-Walkers Get? 

Female epaulette sharks are mature at 25.2 inches, and males at about 23.6 inches. They reproduce by laying eggs, but fertilization is internal. Producing two eggs per breeding, the female may produce up to 50 eggs per year. The male will grasp a female pectoral fin to stabilize her during the mating process.

Once the eggs are released into the water, the egg will become entangled in structures at the bottom of shallow water in coral and rocky areas. It takes about 120 days for full gestation but may vary depending on water temperature. Once the egg is left in the reef, the parent sharks do not return to care for the eggs or the hatching newborn pups. The pups are about 5.9 inches long when they are born. 

Watching out for predators, this shark will find areas in coral reefs, under ledges, and other small spaces to hide. When they are hiding around corals, they only need the head to be covered. They will sun in open or sandy areas of reefs, facing the current so they can protect themselves. Their colorings also help to camouflage them from predators.